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Housing and Neighborhood Preservation
Richmond, VA 23219
(804)646-6344
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Richmond’s Southside offers its residents a wealth of
natural beauty, including river views, quiet, tree-lined streets and thriving
woods and creeks. Much of the area was originally forests and farmland, so the
majority of its homes offer sizeable yards and plenty of shade trees.
In fact, Southside offers literally every type of community possible. From the converted warehouses and renovated
storefronts of Old Manchester, to the sloping lots and gorgeous views of
Riverside Drive, to the brand-new homes being built in Fawnbrook and Broad Rock,
the range and diversity of the area’s neighborhoods is remarkable.
The area features older neighborhoods such as Woodland Heights and Westover Hills, with winding streets, unique architecture, and an
urban feel, as well as newer ones such as Broad Rock and Cherry Gardens, with
quiet cul-de-sacs, quality affordable properties, and close proximity to schools
and recreational activities.
The area contains the crown jewel of Richmond’s parks
system, the James River Park, which stretches from the western city limits to
Belle Isle, as well as more local treasures, such as Forest Hill Park and the
secluded Falling Creek Reservoir.
Woodland Heights
Many Woodland Heights residents claim that their
neighborhood is neither urban nor suburban: but somewhere in between. Traffic,
both pedestrian and vehicular, rushes up and down busy Semmes Avenue, but only a
few blocks away are peaceful parks and quiet lanes along the river’s
banks.
Because most of its houses were built during four
different development periods, the architecture of the neighborhood is
remarkably diverse. The 80-block area features a collection of Queen Anne,
Colonial Revival, American Four Squares and bungalows, most of which were
constructed between 1914, when the area was annexed by the city, and 1933.
Perhaps the neighborhood’s most prized asset is its close proximity to the
natural beauty of Forest Hill Park. The community’s most famous dwelling, the
Stone House, was built in 1840 and now stands in the center of the park, just
west of Woodland Heights.
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Westover Hills
Westover Hills is one of Richmond’s most established neighborhoods. Its properties are set upon the hills
and slopes of the James River’s south bank, just across from Byrd Park and
Maymont.
The area was named for the Westover plantation on the
lower James, home of William Byrd, Richmond’s founder, and was initially
developed in the 1920s and 30s. Over the years, it has remained a quiet
neighborhood of winding, shady streets and well-kept homes and yards.
The homes here offer a wealth
of personality, with architectural styles ranging from Cape Cods to brick
Colonial, Spanish Colonial and Tudor Revival. Some properties along prestigious
Riverside Drive offer splendid views of the river and the opposite bank. Most
homes are constructed entirely of brick and have been well maintained.
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Fawnbrook
A comfortable suburban area with plenty of natural
beauty, Fawnbrook is a beautiful blend of the old and the new.
The first phase of development, in the 1960s, consisted mostly of brick ranchers and split-levels
located on sizeable lots with winding, shady streets. Many of the lots back up
to Pocoshock Creek, which flows through the neighborhood. In the early 1990s, a
second phase of development added tri levels and newer ranch-style homes, built
with a combination of brick and siding, to the existing neighborhood.
Pocosham Park lies just to the south of Fawnbrook, and
a walking trail connects the neighborhood to the park, which offers an abundance
of recreational opportunities. The neighborhood’s winding, tree-lined streets
offer a secluded and peaceful environment, but several major thoroughfares run
through the area and downtown Richmond is only minutes away.
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Broad Rock
The Broad Rock area, centered around the intersection of Broad Rock and Walmsley boulevards, is composed of
several different subdivisions each situated on the rolling hills and gentle
slopes north of the Falling Creek Reservoir. Many roads that serve the various
communities end in cull -de sacs at the banks of the reservoir, so traffic is
kept to a minimum.
Properties are mostly ranch-style brick homes from the 1950s and 1960s, with several areas offering newer tri-levels and
split-levels from the 1980s and 1990s. In fact, there are plans for future
development at the western end of the neighborhood.
The presence of the reservoir offers Broad Rock an
added dimension, as several of the neighborhood’s properties have lakeside
acreage or views. Other opportunities for recreation include the Broad Rock
Sports Complex, an athletic and community center only a few minutes away.
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Cherry Gardens/Cullenwood
The neighborhoods of Cherry Gardens and Cullenwood,
located off Belt Boulevard in the heart of Southside, are quiet suburban
enclaves.
Cherry Gardens, features ranch-style homes from the
1950s and 60s, and several tri-levels that have been built more recently. The
neighborhood backs up to Broad Rock Creek and the woodlands that line its banks,
providing a sense of seclusion to the area. Across Terminal Boulevard is the
Cullenwood neighborhood, similar in style to Cherry Gardens with ranch and
split-level homes predominating. Most properties in Cullenwood date from the
late 1980s, and its streets are laid out in a more informal pattern.
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Beaufont Hills
The area in Chesterfield County known today as Beaufont
Hills; was originally developed as two subdivisions; Keenland Farms and Beaufont
Hills. The city annexed the area in 1970.
Both Beaufont Hills and nearby Beaufont Mall on
Midlothian Turnpike got their names from the old Beaufont Springs, which flows
underground near the site that the mall now occupies beside Chippenham
Parkway.
The majority of the homes in this neighborhood was built in the late 1950s and are ranchers of various
designs. It includes Cape Cod, Colonial Contemporary and California
Contemporary. Most are brick, though some offer vinyl siding.
Although Beaufont Hills is right off the bustling
Midlothian Turnpike business corridor, the area is quiet and cozy. There are
many trees and Reedy Creek flows along the edge of the neighborhood.
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